While writing letters to the editor, thoughts come to mind for critics who contend that God’s written word reflects mythsand hearsay and that history is void of evidence proving that Jesus existed.

To the contrary, with research, one finds that many names and deeds that permeate the Old and Newtestaments are verifiable in historical documents or have been proven true by archaeology.

Although finding documented proof that Jesus existed beyond the Bible is difficult, its sparseness is not surprising. Even while he healed the sick, the lame and the blind and raised the dead, He encountered anti-Jesus voices plotting to quiet Him.

Start with Annas and Caiaphas, the two high priests who lacked the godly appointedLevite priesthood bloodline. According to history, Rome decreed their position (heartofhosea.org/caiaphas.html). Therefore, when Jesus’ teaching threatened their political position and religious reputation, there is no question that Rome, not God, received the high priests’ loyalty.

Next, mix in the original 71-member Sanhedrin religious council that had grown to include scribes, Pharisees, more “priests … the captain of the temple and the Sadducees….” Then add “as many as were of the kindred of the high priest….”

After Jesus’ crucifixion, they were all “grieved that (the Apostles) taught the people and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.” (Acts 4:1-2, 6).

All those politically motivated naysayers wanted Jesus’ teachings neither preached nor talked about when He lived, let alone after the crucifixion. Thus, we can suspect the Sanhedrin’s far-reaching pals, who paid the tomb guards to lie about how Jesus’ body disappeared, would also have no guilty conscience against removing names, falsifying documents or destroying historical evidence.

Altering historical evidence is not unheard of. Even today we muffle the Christian voice and are considering altering history in our schools because literary classics and past truths offend present-day society. Imagine, in only a few hundred years, not 2,000, how our suppressed past-truth will affect certain, specific research and mindsets.

Nonetheless, perhaps Saint Paul was aware of history manipulation even when he told Porcius Festus: “…None of these things are hidden…for this thing was not done in a corner.” (Acts 26:26).

Clearly, Paul referred to Jesus’ barbarous public trial and crucifixion and His resurrection after three days buried in Joseph of Arimathea’stomb. Surely, he meant Jesus’ appearance at the sepulcher to “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary” (Matthew 28:1). Undoubtedly, he considered Cleopas and his companion, who met Jesus on the road to Emmaus after his resurrection (Luke 24:15). Paul likely remembered Jesus’ appearance to His disciple when Thomas was absent and again eight days later when Thomas was present (John 20: 19, 26).

Remember, Paul wrote that Jesus appeared to “above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part (remains) unto this present (day)….” (1 Corinthians 15:6) Why would Paul write that when any one of the 500 could have disputed his words?

Further we must be mindful that when Paul, while named Saul the Christian killer, met the risen Lord on the Damascus road (Acts 9:3-5), his life changed forever, as do all lives when they accept Christ as their savior.

That is why Christians obey Jesus’ command to spread the gospel beyond the church. Christians want all to hear that “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? (And) how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? (And) how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14)

That is why the gospels were written. That is why Paul and others wrote letters.